Depression looks different in teens & kids

Did you know children and teens often show depression differently than adults? Irritability, oppositional behavior, anger...these can be symptoms of depression for youth that are often overlooked and instead of getting help and extra gentleness and love, they get punished by adults, rejected by peers and feel isolated and misunderstood. Depression is in my opinion a gateway mental health issue for youth. The ways kids attempt to cope can lead to further mental health problems such as addictions, anxiety, social phobia and more. Extra Listening to young people and providing opportunities for them to communicate their experience such as through music, writing, therapy or healthy youth groups can start a conversation that can change everything. <3 This video shows a child who wrote and performs his spoken word poetry about his depression experience.